ceremony
People involved in the ceremony
The sacrament of Eucharist brings to completion the Christian process of initiation. In this sacrament we remember what Jesus did for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember particularly the Last Supper, that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. At that meal Jesus gave us the Eucharist so that we could remember him in a special way. When we receive Communion, we believe that we become one with him and with each other. As a community we become 'the body of Christ'.
The Eucharist is our great sign of unity as a community and therefore must be a Catholic to receive the Eucharist. This means that the person receiving the Eucharist must have also been initiated into the church through the Sacrament of Baptism.
The parish priest celebrates the Eucharist and is often assisted by Eucharistic ministers in the distribution amongst the assembly.
Steps in the Ceremony
Preparation of Gifts: During the celebration of the Eucharist, the gifts which will become Christ's body and blood, are brought to the altar. The gifts are placed on the altar to the accompaniment of the prescribed texts. This is also the time to receive money or other gifts for the church or the poor brought by the faithful or collected at the Mass. These are to be put in a suitable place but not on the altar.
The priest then washes his hands as an expression of his desire to be cleansed within. Once the gifts have been placed on the altar and the accompanying rites completed, the preparation of the gifts comes to an end through the invitation to pray with the priest and the prayer over the gifts, which are a preparation for the Eucharistic prayer.
Eucharist Prayer: Now the centre and summit of the entire celebration begins: the Eucharistic prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification. The priest invites the people to lift up their hearts to the Lord in prayer and thanks. He unites them with himself in the prayer he addresses in their name to the Father through Jesus Christ. The meaning of the prayer is that the entire assembly joins itself to Christ in acknowledging the great things God has done and in offering the sacrifice.
The Eucharistic prayer calls for all to listen in silent reverence, but also to take part through the acclamations for which the rite makes provision.
Communion Rite: The final step in the celebration of the Eucharist is the Communion rite. It begins with the assembly recital of the Lord's Prayer.
Before the bread is shared, the faithful implore peace and unity for the Church and for the whole human family and offer a sign of their love for one another. The rite of peace is typically demonstrated and shared through a hand shake. The priest then breaks the bread. This rite is not simply functional, but is a sign that in sharing in the one bread of life which is Christ we who are many are made one body (1 Cor 10:17). The celebrant then drops a part of the host into the chalice.
The priest then softly prays that he may receive Christ's body and blood. the faithful do the same by silent prayer. The priest then shows the Eucharistic bread to the faithful and with them recites the prayer of humility in words from the Gospels. The assembly of those who have already participated in their First Holy Communion gather to receive the Eucharist.
After communion, the priest and people may spend some time in silent prayer. In the prayer after communion, the priest petitions for the effects of the mystery just celebrated and by their acclamation, Amen.
Once the Communion rite has concluded, the priest commences the Concluding rite where he blesses and dismisses the assembly.
The sacrament of Eucharist brings to completion the Christian process of initiation. In this sacrament we remember what Jesus did for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember particularly the Last Supper, that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. At that meal Jesus gave us the Eucharist so that we could remember him in a special way. When we receive Communion, we believe that we become one with him and with each other. As a community we become 'the body of Christ'.
The Eucharist is our great sign of unity as a community and therefore must be a Catholic to receive the Eucharist. This means that the person receiving the Eucharist must have also been initiated into the church through the Sacrament of Baptism.
The parish priest celebrates the Eucharist and is often assisted by Eucharistic ministers in the distribution amongst the assembly.
Steps in the Ceremony
Preparation of Gifts: During the celebration of the Eucharist, the gifts which will become Christ's body and blood, are brought to the altar. The gifts are placed on the altar to the accompaniment of the prescribed texts. This is also the time to receive money or other gifts for the church or the poor brought by the faithful or collected at the Mass. These are to be put in a suitable place but not on the altar.
The priest then washes his hands as an expression of his desire to be cleansed within. Once the gifts have been placed on the altar and the accompanying rites completed, the preparation of the gifts comes to an end through the invitation to pray with the priest and the prayer over the gifts, which are a preparation for the Eucharistic prayer.
Eucharist Prayer: Now the centre and summit of the entire celebration begins: the Eucharistic prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification. The priest invites the people to lift up their hearts to the Lord in prayer and thanks. He unites them with himself in the prayer he addresses in their name to the Father through Jesus Christ. The meaning of the prayer is that the entire assembly joins itself to Christ in acknowledging the great things God has done and in offering the sacrifice.
The Eucharistic prayer calls for all to listen in silent reverence, but also to take part through the acclamations for which the rite makes provision.
Communion Rite: The final step in the celebration of the Eucharist is the Communion rite. It begins with the assembly recital of the Lord's Prayer.
Before the bread is shared, the faithful implore peace and unity for the Church and for the whole human family and offer a sign of their love for one another. The rite of peace is typically demonstrated and shared through a hand shake. The priest then breaks the bread. This rite is not simply functional, but is a sign that in sharing in the one bread of life which is Christ we who are many are made one body (1 Cor 10:17). The celebrant then drops a part of the host into the chalice.
The priest then softly prays that he may receive Christ's body and blood. the faithful do the same by silent prayer. The priest then shows the Eucharistic bread to the faithful and with them recites the prayer of humility in words from the Gospels. The assembly of those who have already participated in their First Holy Communion gather to receive the Eucharist.
After communion, the priest and people may spend some time in silent prayer. In the prayer after communion, the priest petitions for the effects of the mystery just celebrated and by their acclamation, Amen.
Once the Communion rite has concluded, the priest commences the Concluding rite where he blesses and dismisses the assembly.